State, Rome police to assist Utica

Police officers from neighboring agencies are joining Utica police in increasing patrols in high crime areas of Cornhill, police and city officials announced Monday.

Jennifer Fusco

Police officers from neighboring agencies are joining Utica police in increasing patrols in high crime areas of Cornhill, police and city officials announced Monday.

The multi-agency public safety plan is called Operation Safe Neighborhoods, and will focus on enhancing patrols along James Street from Oneida to Mohawk streets and other high crime spots in the city, officials said.

Officers from state and Rome police will help patrol Cornhill, other neighborhoods in East and West Utica and neighborhoods throughout the city that need extra help, officials said.

"We're hoping it's going to help in the short-term," said Utica police Chief C. Allen Pylman.

The area near James and West streets has the most immediate need, officials said.
Four officers from Rome in two cars patrolled Cornhill Monday in addition to the normal Utica patrols.

More Utica officers also will be on the street, including seven new officers in field training and those added from consolidation of job duties within the department.

James Street resident Brenda Fudge said she hopes the enhanced patrol will help keep crime down in the neighborhood.

"I think it will let the kids know that they are not playing," she said. "There is a crime problem here and it can happen at anytime."

The increased patrols come less than a month after the beating of a Utica police officer.

Police officer Dzenan Sabanovic, 24, suffered a broken nose, a minor concussion and several abrasions after he was punched and kicked about 20 times in the head while he was on duty at the corner of James Street and Dudley Avenue.

Three teenagers were charged following that incident.

Five months ago, Officer Thomas Lindsey was shot and killed in Cornhill.

Julian, who is running for re-election in November, said enhanced patrolling began this weekend.

Democratic mayoral candidate David Roefaro said Julian's plan details short-term solutions for long-term public safety problems that should have been addressed months ago.

Roefaro is crafting a comprehensive public safety plan that includes a decrease of high-ranking positions at the police department through attrition and review of the current schedule of shifts to allow more officers in neighborhoods, he said in a released statement.

Rome Mayor James Brown said Rome is more than willing to help keep officers and the Utica community safe.